As expected, Apple on Tuesday introduced variable pricing on iTunes, meaning that some popular tracks now cost $1.29 instead of $0.99. Less expected: Amazon.com has followed Apple into the fray. Scroll down today’s listof top downloads, and you’ll see a few tracks at $1.29.

I just stopped believing.

It was only a matter of time, but I didn’t expect the price hike to come on the same day, given all the noise Amazon’s been making about a special promotion in the U.K. (0.29 pounds for some selected track, down from the usual minimum of 0.59). I can’t imagine Amazon’s excited about raising prices in a recession–they’re probably responding to price increases by the record labels, which were made possible by Apple’s capitulation. Good luck with that!